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I was looking at one of these this week and really liked how it felt. Can anyone give me any ups or downs on whether its a good carry or not. It felt very light compared to others, (polymer), but felt good. Any info would be appreciated. thanks

The fact that it only comes with a magazine disconnect was the killer for me.

In a struggle or the confusion of an encounter, it's too easy for the mag release to get bumped.

When that pistol has a magazine disconnect, you are now holding a club.

As a former police officer, I saw the mag release on my S&W 6450 (think 4506) as a good thing. If I was ever loosing control of it, I could hit the switch and turn it into a club, and let it go. Then I could safely get the backup. If you've dropped a mag and don't have another, you've got a single-shot anyway. You'd better come up with a better plan, and fast. That said, in 15 years of owning that gun and many others, I've never accidentally dropped a mag. Ever.

the mag release you talking about, is it the button on the side LH, push to let mag resease? This is very similar to my 1911, never had any problems there, sorry about the ? , I am not gun smart. thanks for the info.

There were numerous reports, unverified, of officers' leather gear engaging the mag release, whereupon the officer exits his patrol car with a useless pistol. Obviously, some models might be more prone to this than others. I seem to remember first gen S&W autos had a reputation for this.

My brother ceased carrying his S&W Model 39 when this happened to him. Since the pistol wasn't needed, he considered it a lesson learned.

Scooter03,

Yes, the mag release is the button you are familiar with.

A magazine disconnect prevents the gun from firing unless the mag is firmly seated.

As you see, there are different opinions on the value of the option.

I haven't handled a P345, but I carry a P97DC.

As I understand it, the P345 has a narrower grip, an accessory rail, a loaded chamber indicator, a magazine safety, and a keyed integral safety lock.

If the grip is improved over the very slick P97, I'd consider it. I keep a Hogue Handall on mine. When I upgrade my main carry pistol, though, I'm going with something smaller.

Kevin

Mike1951 wrote:Scooter03,

Yes, the mag release is the button you are familiar with.

A magazine disconnect prevents the gun from firing unless the mag is firmly seated.

As you see, there are different opinions on the value of the option.

That definitely makes sense, I do recall that it will not fire without mag. thanks Mike1951.

Actually, Scooter, you mentioned a 1911 in your earlier post.

Be aware that a 1911 WILL fire without a magazine.

Mike1951 wrote:Actually, Scooter, you mentioned a 1911 in your earlier post.

Be aware that a 1911 WILL fire without a magazine.

YOU are so very right!

My bad, I was sure that it wouldnt, thanks for the info, I will be aware .

I just got a Ruger Mark III 22/45 last weekend. It's a nice little mouse gun, but like the P345 has a magazine disconnect. Makes it a real pain to disassemble & clean (insert magazine, move part a, remove magazine, move part b, reinsert magazine remove part a, remove magazine, remove part b, and so on).

If it were larger than a .22, I would have initially considered it as a possible alternate carry weapon, but the games I had to play with it over the magazine disconnect convinced me that it wouldn't be the one for me to carry. I'll stick with my SA 1911A1 GI .45 for now.

I have a mark 3 as well and inatially the disassembly and reassembly was a nightmare along with the no fire when mag out, a little work by a gunsmith and now it fires with out the clip in. But the cleaning is not alot of fun until you become very familiar with the pistol my first cleaning 2 hours plus with disassembly and reassembly but now less than 30 seconds to take apart and put back together